Ligue 1: Neymar’s Entitled Petulance A Pox On Paris

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 31: Neymar Jr of PSG during the UEFA Champions League group B match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and RSC Anderlecht at Parc des Princes on October 31, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

There comes a time in the heart and mind of every supporter of Paris Saint-Germain when he or she needs to lay down the law and issue an ultimatum to players who feel they are above the club and the city they represent that reads, “You’re Not Special, Get On With It.” Neymar Santos Jr. has been producing for Paris and putting on a show in terms of his playing ability. But his character and ego from his big money move away from FC Barcelona has destroyed him and he had chosen not to anything to fix his image.

Reports from France have confirmed that he is at war with Unai Emery, the manager of the club, in regards to how the gaffer is treating him, despite all of the provisions set in place. His peers also are not pleased that Neymar is choosing to sulk rather than work with the team and exhibit humility by taking what is given and working to get what must be gained.

It is a sorry episode that puts the mighty PSG on the map for all the wrong reasons and in an era of sports where players now have the leverage, Emery, despite the hard work he has put in, could take the fall in favor of a manager who will respect the wishes of Neymar, the King, so as to keep the change room happy as well as the staff.

Neymar did not play against Angers SCO due to a knock in training. Meanwhile, Angel Di Maria and Marquinhos will be proud soccer dads and had been given the weekend off. Javier Pastore and Presnel Kimpembe are expected to fill in and provide quality shifts at the Stade Raymond Kopa against a Scoistes outfit that has won only two of its 11 league contests.

But even with the precaution, Neymar must change his attitude towards his peers, his coaches, his management, and the city. He must transform himself and realize that he is damaging his credibility by exhibiting outrageous entitled petulance.

He may be the King, but even Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom knows that to be good ruler, you must defer to the opinion of those around you and put the whole above yourself. Neymar Santos Jr., we are not amused.

Jo-Ryan Salazar is a writer for The Stoppage Time, a soccer blog powered by Azteca Soccer. A supporter of the Los Angeles Galaxy since 1996 and a committed supporter since 2002, Jo-Ryan also follows Chelsea FC, Melbourne Victory, FC Tokyo and Paris Saint-Germain. Apart from soccer, Jo-Ryan is an administrative assistant for a local nonprofit in Long Beach, California and also does photography, photo-editing and fictional writing.